Questions and Answers

Chevy Celebrity Oil Pan Removal Q. Ok, I own a 1988 Chevy Celebrity 2.8 liter V-6 with an automatic transmission. Not sure what speed though. Here's my problem. On this car there is a metal or steel flat piece that goes across the vehicle under it from the left to the right and it looks like it's welded on. It's right in the area where I need to get to take off the oil pan.

That's what I need to do is to get the oil pan off. Some instructions for this would be very helpful. It's just that beam is in the way. Some kind of bar is what it looks like and, no, it's not a tie rod or a front-end suspension or driving part. Just a long beam that goes from left to right under the vehicle right below the oil pan.

I also need some instruction on how to install a new engine mount on the right side of the engine. I have to remove the oil pan to replace the crankshaft position sensor on this vehicle because the old sensor half of it is broke off in the hole. Removing that is going to be real fun. But I can't because the oil pan is in the way. Mileage on this car is 155,046. If you can help me out this would be a great deed.

Thank you,
Jerry

A. The piece you are talking about is the engine "cradle". It holds the engine and transmission. If you have access to a hoist you can remove it while using a special tool to hold the engine and transmission from the top. This would be a very involved job!

You could try a trick I used once for the same problem. You drill a hole smaller than 1/8" into the piece that's left inside the block. Then thread a sheet metal screw into this hole making sure you get a good bite on it. Then get some long needle nose pliers up between the transmission and block onto this screw and try to pry it out. As for the mount, you need a jack under the engine to hold the weight while you remove it. Good luck!